LIGHT MELLOW - AOR Groovin' & Breezin' [Cool Sound Japan] (2000)

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

"Light Mellow" is a compilation series assembled by various Japanese labels featuring artists from their back catalog all revolving around smooth AOR / West Coast music.
So there's Light Mellow compilations made by Warner Bros Japan, BMG Japan, Universal Japan, etc, but I think the best of all it's the first appeared in 2000, initiated by specialized AOR label Cool Sound, a little company legendary for their pristine remasters of long forgotten albums.

That first CD was titled "LIGHT MELLOW: AOR Groovin' & Breezin' [Cool Sound Japan version]", including some hard to find true gems for the first time on CD, remastered, plus a couple of previously unreleased tracks.
Among the great artists featured here we have Sneaker, Heat, Paul Bliss, Bruce Gaitsch feat. Jason Scheff, King Of Hearts (Tommy Funderburk), Joseph Williams and Tony Scuito with his classic 'Island Nights' but in its impossible to find Alternate Mix.

However the real pearls on this release are the 2 previously unreleased tracks: one being 'Heart Don't Change My Mind' by master Robbie Buchanan featuring the awesome lead vocals of the late Warren Wiebe, and Greg Guidry's 'Goin' Down' in a newly re-recorded version of this tune exclusive to this CD.



Of course out of print now, "LIGHT MELLOW: AOR Groovin' & Breezin' [Cool Sound Japan version]" is a much sought after album not only for its quality and collectors item status, but mostly because the CD was strictly prohibited to be sold to foreign customers due legal reasons.
Smooth stuff of the highest quality. Rare.


01 - Heat
Don't You Walk Away
02 - Bruce Hibbard
Never Turnin' Back
03 - Rosie feat. Lynn Pitney
There's a Song In It Somewhere
04 - Robbie Buchannan (feat. Warren Wiebe)
Heart Don't Change My Mind
05 - Greg Guidry
Goin' Down
06 - David Diggs
Lonely Weekend
07 - Paul Bliss
How Do I Survive
08 - Tony Scuito
Island Nights (Alternate Mix)
09 - David Lasley
You Bring Me Joy
10 - Sibling Revelry
Consider the Greatest Love
11 - Kazu Matsui Project
Is That the Way to Your Heart
12 - Bruce Gaitsch feat. Jason Scheff
Letting Go
13 - Michael Gonzales
Love is Forever
14 - Sneaker
Did You Order One
15 - Joseph Williams
I Didn't Do It
16 - King Of Hearts
Lovin' Arms


LIGHT MELLOW AOR Groovin' & Breezin' [Cool Sound Japan]
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20/20 BLIND - Never Far (1994)

Requested by one of you...

20/20 BLIND were an underground band based in Houston, TX, and I said underground mostly because they were playing American Hard Rock in the second half of the '90s, an era when the genre and 'hooks' were almost a bad word.
The band had a CCM background, hence it's not strange that Benson Music Group accepted to distribute their debut album "Never Far" released in 1994.

20/20 BLIND style is US Hard Rock with the trademark sound from bands of this ilk circa 1991/92, especially the guitars, where still retaining the melody and catchiness from the '80s, added more thickness to the riffs.
There's steady tracks here like 'Show Each Other Love', 'Washed', the melodic 'Do I', the acoustically filled title track 'Never Far' and the heavier closer 'Sleepyland'. 
They do as well a nice semi-ballad on 'Love Keeps Me Reaching', more melodic hard rock oriented.



"Never Far" is a nice and quite unknown record, nothing ground-breaking but pretty solid and especially very well produced for the genre / era with Brian Garcia (Galactic Cowboys) behind the desk. Throw me a pile of stones but I found 20/20 BLIND sound similar to Blue Murder / John Sykes solo around the same year, and some Extreme also.

01 - Wash
02 - Soul Song
03 - Love Keeps Reaching
04 - I Am Blind
05 - Do I
06 - Easier Way
07 - Never Far
08 - Show Each Other Love
09 - Only Hope
10 - Sleepyland

Wallace Chase: Lead Vocals
Doug Middleton: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Mike McNeely: Guitars, Backing Vocals
Schon Alkire: Bass, Backing Vocals
Chris Laurents: Drums, Backing Vocals
Phil Beck: Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Charles Powell: Backing Vocals




20/20 BLIND - Never Far
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EDEN - Fan The Flame (1994) [remastered]

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

"Fan The Flame" was the debut - and as far I know sole release - by Americans EDEN. Founded by quite solid & melodic vocalist Joe Dokken in the early Nineties, the band play here classic second half of the '80s US Hard Rock.
Although Joe Dokken is not related to the famous Don, the music of Eden has many points in common with Dokken, but also Tesla or WhiteCross, and I mention the latter because all the guitars on "Fan The Flame" were performed by Rex Carroll from WhiteCross.
So expect sharp riffs and some flashy solos in the vein of Ratt's Warren DeMartini, George Lynch or even Van Halen, as Carroll - truly underrated 6-string shredder - comes from the same school.

The album was recorded previously to Eden's definitive line-up, so this is basically Joe Dokken & Carroll with some session musicians, not the one listed in the liner notes (check below for personnel on the recording).
There's very cool rockers with melody such as 'Morning Star', 'Show Me', the great 'Forgotten Child' (some Queensryche on it), 'It’s A Shame', and the bluesy 'Tomorrow’s Yesterday', more straight hard rock on 'Back To The Garden' and closer 'Love Rolls On', and a stunning power ballad in title track 'Fan The Flame'.



"Fan The Flame" was originally released in 1994 independently by the band in very limited copies.
Fortunately it was reissued by Retroactive Records in 2003 - the one featured here - digitally remastered with new cover artwork. Also it was re-released in 2008 by a British label under the band's original moniker, Scream In Eden, re-titled Original Sin and again, updated artwork and different song sequence.
Rare


01 - Need Somebody
02 - Show Me
03 - Morning Star
04 - Fan The Flame
05 - Tomorrow's Yesterday
06 - Forgotten Child
07 - Give Me A Reason
08 - It's A Shame
09 - Back To The Garden
10 - Love Rolls On

Joe Dokken - Lead Vocals
Rex Carroll - Guitars
Phil Medeira - Keyboards
Mark Robertson - Bass
Brian Wirt - Drums




EDEN - Fan The Flame (1994) [remastered]
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JIMI GOARE - The Age Of Grace (2007)

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

Guitarist / vocalist JIMI GOARE still performs to this day as solo artist, being a busy session musician during the '80s and fronted the really good band The Affair the next decade releasing strong albums.
In between sessions, Goare recorded many of his own songs and all appeared on this "The Age Of Grace" in 2007, but in fact this material was taped in 1986 / 1988 and some in the early Nineties.

With a quite good production and exquisite arrangements the songs here are plenty of delicate melodies akin Toto, Michael Thompson Band and on the ballads, first era Richard Marx (listen 'My Islands').
Goare's clean guitar licks will remind you Steve Lukather for sure, and vocally, he owns a smooth register. Other singer take the lead vocals on a couple of tracks (like on the '80s AOR of 'Bernadeane') providing more variation to the album.

Despite this is a collection of songs from various periods, all sound quite homogeneous and with a classy '80s AOR feel all over.
Sweet.


01 - Miranda
02 - Weight Of The World
03 - What You Mean To Me
04 - My Islands
05 - Bernadeane
06 - Tonight
07 - The Old Brown Chair
08 - The End Of The Road
09 - Top Of The Hill
10 - Monolith
11 - Suspicious (bonus track)
12 - Rock This Way (bonus track)
13 - Bernadeane (extended version)

Tony Newman: keyboards, bass guitar
Kevin Nevius: keyboards
Steve Edwards: bass guitar
David Breaston: drums
Brett Hardin: keyboards, drums, lead vocals on 2 & 7
Wilbur Strutt: lead vocals on 5 & 6
Infinity: backing vocals on 3
Erica Moening, Shirley Whitt: backing vocals
Jimi Goare: guitars, keyboards, bass, lead vocals on 1, 3, 4, 8 & 10




JIMI GOARE - The Age Of Grace
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TIMOTHY LEWIS - Listen To What I Say [unreleased] + The Offering EP

This material was requested some time ago and it's a true rarity. Finally I found it buried in my archives. I'm talking about vocalist TIMOTHY LEWIS' solo material, recorded for promotional use only.
Timothy Lewis started in the middle '80s as session vocalist, recording commercials and working as vocal coach. Meanwhile composed his own songs and was part of several bands.

All tracks on the CD "Listen To What I Say" were recorded during the Nineties, only distributed to management agencies, record labels, etc.
One copy ended in Mike Walsh's hands - founder of Melodic Rock / AOR group Departure - when the band was looking for a new frontman. Timothy Lewis then joined recording lead vocals & contributing songwriting to the really good album Corporate Wheel (2003) .

The songs on "Listen To What I Say" are lovely '80s AOR tunes with a melodic rock feel, very well recorded & produced despite of being promo material.
Lewis owns a terrific set of pipes with a wide range, really smooth, and with a color & style very much in the Steve Perry / Journey style.
One of the tracks ('Who Will Love This Child') is a demo recorded by Lewis around the era, also found in my vault.



As extra I added the EP recorded by Timothy Lewis in 2009 (less hair, same talent) alongside guitarist Andy Lucyshyn, musically more contemporary oriented with a strong CCM sentiment in the lyrics as both are part of a religious ministry.
The EP "The Offering" only was available as digital download.

This "Listen To What I Say" promotional CD was given personally by Lewis to a friend of mine (thanks troynew, where art thou?) and it's extremely rare. Some tracks surfaced on the now mythical & legendary Mp3.com (remember those days?) one of the pioneer websites from the beginning of Internet.
Collectors item.


Listen To What I Say (Promo CD 1999/2000)
01 - Listen To What I Say
02 - Feelin' That Way
03 - Young Dream
04 - Hold U 2 Night
05 - I Surrender
06 - That's How Love Goes
07 - Given So Much
08 - Haley
09 - Who Will Love This Child (bonus track)

The Offering EP (2009)
01 - All I Am
02 - You Are Saved
03 - Never Alone
04 - Let Go
05 - Hold Me Close To You




TIMOTHY LEWIS Listen To What I Say [unreleased]
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REQUEST & FILL CORNER 18

From now, all request & fills goes in this post Comments.
If you need an album or a single track, request it here, if you have it, be kind with other readers, upload the file and post the link here as well.
Access to this page will be placed at the right column ------>
(the "CLICK HERE" neon sign)
It will be opened in a new window.

Check this section regularly.
You'll find many albums uploaded by readers, not present on the main blog ...

Help each other people!


and don't forget to check out ARCHIVES:


ARCHIVES PART 10

ARCHIVES PART 11

ARCHIVES PART 12

ARCHIVES PART 13

ARCHIVES PART 14

ARCHIVES PART 15

ARCHIVES PART 16

ARCHIVES PART 17

take a deep look at the end of each part...


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EDIN / ADAHL - Big Talk (1989) [Swedish reissue]

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

Comprising a pair of brothers - Bertil & Lasse Edin / Frank & Simon Adahl - Swedish combo EDIN / ADAHL started as band in the late Seventies.
Their first self-titled album appeared in 1980 with Swedish lyrics and a poppy style plus some light progressive touches, but the band developed their sound to a West Coast feel in successive albums influenced by American bands from the genre.
Additionally, they started to record two album versions; in English and their native language.

EDIN / ADAHL was a band with a religious background, and with the raising popularity of CCM in America most of their albums - the English versions - were released in the USA.
The polished sound of the band plus the pristine record production - similar quality when compared to secular albums - gave EDIN / ADAHL a considerable success among American listeners.

Released in 1989, "Big Talk" is EDIN / ADAHL's more 'American' album, both in sound & songwriting style, and their strongest effort overall.
Here, the band feels focused, straight to a mainstream direction and with a pristine production to appeal US adult radio / charts.
Unfortunately, despite of being released in America by the biggest CCM label at the moment (Refuge), "Big Talk" suffered of poor distribution. Certainly, a pity, as most tracks own the potential to had become hits in the AC charts.



Songs like the dynamic poppy opener 'Going Back', the catchy 'Wider Than The Ocean', the slightly hi-tech title track or the excellent ballad 'Lonely Without You' have a sound the easily could be compared with Mr. Mister or Chicago finest moments.
Very smooth vocals by Frank Adahl, stylish instrumentation and as said, top class production are the key of "Big Talk", a sure delight for fans of this genre.
This is a rip of the Swedish reissue from some years ago, not sure if remastered, but sounds fabulous.


01 - Going Back
02 - Missin' You
03 - Wider Than The Ocean
04 - Man Of The Street
05 - Big Talk
06 - Mystical Moments
07 - Write It On The Wall
08 - Utopia
09 - Lonely Without You

Frank Adahl - Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals
Simon Adahl - Keyboards, Guitars, Bass, Vocals
Bertil Edin - Keyboards, Guitars, Bass, Vocals
Lasse Edin - Keyboards, Vocals




EDIN / ADAHL - Big Talk (1989) [Swedish reissue]
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LITTERER - Rock This City (1987)

Requested in "REQUEST & FILL CORNER" section...

Formed by family members, LITTERER rocked the South Dakota area during the '80s recording this "Rock This City" LP in 1987. It was released on a small label, but the band was truly professional.
Not only they had a great image, wardrobe, stage design, etc, but also (apart from being solid musicians and composing good songs) the production on this album is above the standard for an indie band.

Often compared with the first Danger Danger - perhaps due to Tom Litterer's similar vocal timbre to Ted Poley - to me their brand of melodic hard rock is more edgy (twin guitar attack) and they throw in some lovely Pomp AOR flourishes all over.
Indeed opener 'Ghost Town Park' sounds a bit like Danger Danger, but next title track 'Rock This City' is harder showing Litterer's bite, with some classy pompy keyboards all over.
'Lost In Time' has some Dokken on it, 'No More Lies' is more melodic, then midtempo ballad 'Romancing The Night' has more substance than the typical songs in this vein.

'Rock On Through The Night' delivers more hard rockin' (reminds me a Stryper song), mid-paced 'Broken Hearts' has a very cool guitar interplay, 'High Roller' indeed rolls with a good rhythm, and closer 'City Lights', starting with popmpy keys, develops into another effective Dokken-esque rocker.



Only released on vinyl, Litterer and this "Rock This City" are good examples of the extensive talent and huge amount of solid bands that flooded the US scene during the '80s.
Requested by a reader, I thought this was a fitting post to this blog as we needed some rocking stuff here. This is a 192Kbps vinyl-rip (not mine) but very well done, pretty clean.


01 - Ghost Town Park
02 - Rock This City
03 - Lost In Time
04 - No More Lies
05 - Romancing The Night
06 - Rock On Through The Night
07 - Broken Hearts
08 - High Roller
09 - City Lights

Steve Litterer - guitar, vocals
Dave Litterer - drums
Tom Litterer - bass, lead vocals
Carleen Litterer - keyboards, vocals
Brent Estlund - guitar, vocals




LITTERER - Rock This City (1987)
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HERLAND - One Small Step (1995) + bonus

Requested by a reader

HERLAND, a five-piece band from the U.S. Northeast (not Canadian as some websites say) is made up of the three Herland brothers Frank, Scott & John, all with many years of experience in the music business including radio, television and commercial recordings. They have supported over the years many major acts such as White Lion, LA Guns, Gary Cherone from Extreme, etc.

In the mid-Nineties the bros. released independently their self-produced debut “One Small Step”. Their style has many influences, mostly American Melodic Rock, with a guitar driven sound and pretty good vocal arrangements / harmonies.
“One Small Step” is a really cool album, but I don't understand the ridiculous prices (over $ 100) of this CD at Ebay. Surely because it's a collectors piece and out of print.



I have featured here on the blog several years ago a promo copy distributed before the official release. Now, as requested, here's the full “One Small Step” album, plus 3 extra tracks recorded by the band later.
Very Rare.


01 - Find Your Way
02 - Why-O-Why
03 - Swept Away
04 - Would You Be Mine Tonight
05 - Totally Used
06 - Sleepin' Beauty
07 - Let Me Know
08 - Take Your Time
09 - Stand In Your Way (bonus)
10 - She Says Lonely (bonus)
11 - Bleed (bonus)

John Herland - Lead & Back up vocals
Frank Herland - Keyboards, Guitar, Back up vocals
Scott Herland - Guitars, Back up vocals
Mike Fazio - Bass
Arthur Mambuca - Drums, Percussion




HERLAND - One Small Step (1995) + bonus
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